smith



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. S. SMITH.

MACHINE r03 TREATING CLAY. N0. 312,666. 7 Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

WITNESSES 11v VENTOR W5 v Attorney (Nd Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

vJ. S. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR TREATING CLAY- No. 312,666. Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

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INVEggZ'OR WITNESSES Attorney of the machine.

JOHN s. SMITH, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THEODORE c.BENNETT, or SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING CLAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent INC-312,666, dated February24,1885.

Application fi'eil November 10, 1884. (No model.)

To (rZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. SMITH, of the city and county of Jackson, inthe State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful ImprovementinMachines for Preparing (J ay, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to that class of machines which are used in thepreparation of clay for manufacture into tiles, pipes, 810.; and itconsists in the use of a rotating disk or plate in combination withrollers revolving above the same and in proximity thereto for breakingup the lumps,kneading the clay, and expelling the stones which may bemixed with the mass.

In the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 isa side elevation Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is atop or plan view of the same.

The same letters are employed in all the figures in the indication ofidentical parts.

A is the frame of the machine. B is the driving-pulley on the shaft B,which carries the spur-pinion B and the fly-Wheel B The pinion B engagesthe spur wheel 0 on a shaft which carries the beveled pinion G, en

gaging the matched wheel D on a vertical.

shaft, D, having its step on the frame A. On the upper end of shaft D isa circular rotating plate, E, the upper face of which, in stead of beingflat, as in another application filed herewith, is formed with a spiralrib or recess, 6, commencing at the center and running to the periphery.It may be formed by cutting a spiral channel in the face of a fiatplate, or by a raised rib, the effect in either case being to form theface of the plate in different planes with a recess and intermediatesurface running spirally from center to circumference. Above this plateare placed two rollers, F and G, radially disposed, which run in nearproximity to the face of the plate. In the case as illustrated one ofthese rollers is positively actuated by a spur-wheel, F, driven from thepinion 0; but they may be both actuated positively or both free-running,

or, as shown, with one positively actuated and the other free-running.Vv'hether one or 'the other of these plans shall be adopted will dependupon the nature of the clay to be treated. Outside of the plate is afixed curb to confine the clay. This curb is not shown in the drawingsin this case. A scraper, H, is placed as shown, to throw the clay off atthe periphery of the rotating plate. Another scraper, H, directs theclay as it comes from the hopper toward the center of the wheel. Thishopper discharges the clay onto that part of the wheel intermediatebetween the scrapers H H and the roller F. Should there be stones in theclay too large to be drawn in between the roller and the rotating plateand crushed, they will stop in front of roller F, and the spiral e,acting upon them, will cause them to roll over and over, so detachingthe clay in which they are embedded and working the stones toward theperiphery, passing between the roller F and the end of scraper Hfinallyeject them through an opening left for the purpose in the curbimmediately in front of the roller F. The spiral operates not only toclean and expel the stones, but also to aid in tempering the clay bybreaking up lumps and disintegrating the particles, and so bringing themass into a condition excellently suited for the further working in thetile machine.

Among the machines heretofore employed for reducing clay to propercondition is one in which the clay as it comes from the bank is firstpassed between rollers and the stones taken out in a manner in commonpractice fcr many years. The clay then falls upon a rotary grating, andpassing under another set of rollers is forced through narrow spacesbetween thin bars into a pug-mill. My machine is distinguished from thisin the substitution of asolid rotating plate for the grating, anddispensing with the first set of rollers, whereby the entire work ofseparating the stones and reducing the clay to proper condition isperformed at a single operation, the clay after twice passing under aroller being expelled at one place on the periphery, While the stonesare discharged at another opening left for the purpose in the stationarycurb.

What I claim as my invention, and desire 5 to secure by Letters Patent,is-

In a machine for treating clay, the combination of a solid revolvingplate and a roller or rollers rotating in proximity thereto for reducingthe clay to a plastic condition and at 10 the same time expelling thestones mixed with l the clay over the periphery of the plate at onepoint while .the clay is discharged over the periphery at another,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing 15 Witnesses.

JOHN S. SMITH.

In presence of- J ULIAN' J. BENNETT, J. B. VIETs.

